TALLAHASSEE - For the second straight week, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden has a quarterback quandary.
Not at the top of the depth chart. Wyatt Sexton did just dandy as a first-time starter in place of the injured Chris Rix. But Rix still is hobbling, though improving, and freshman Drew Weatherford, the former Land O'Lakes star, sprained his right ankle on his first and only play against North Carolina on Saturday.
"You've got to look and see how close Chris is to getting back," Bowden said Sunday morning, adding he did not know the severity of Weatherford's injury.
The answer, Coach, is not good.
Weatherford, on campus at lunchtime for treatment, said his ankle didn't balloon up as badly as Rix's, but he thought he also strained his Achilles' tendon.
"I tried to take a drop and I just couldn't do anything on my toe," said Weatherford, who had a splint around his ankle and was using crutches. "I can stand on my heel fine, but if I get up on my toe at all, I just can't get the job done.
"I'm, of course, really disappointed and upset about the situation. I had a great opportunity to play the whole fourth quarter and prove that I can play at this level, and to give that up is upsetting."
He said he may be able to get a medical redshirt if the NCAA considers the injury to be a true season-ending one, but isn't optimistic. If he recovers soon enough, he still may play.
Bowden said he doesn't want to use Xavier Lee, like Weatherford a heralded freshman. Unlike Weatherford, Lee predominately played in a shotgun formation and being under center is a major adjustment.
"I'd sure hate to bring Lee up," Bowden said. "He really needs a redshirt year. It's the best thing that could happen to him. He's got all kind of potential that needs time."
Bowden might rely on walk-on Tommy Keane, who finished the game Saturday, as a stopgap between either Rix or Weatherford recovering enough to play.
"Keane ain't bad," Bowden said. "I've been noticing him out there in practice and I keep watching him and I keep thinking to myself, "That kid ain't a bad prospect."'
IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING: Bowden said he called the naked bootleg for Weatherford to take advantage of his running ability and perhaps "break him in with a big play."
In hindsight, he said he should have realized the play wouldn't work; FSU had run a reverse with Chris Davis a few plays earlier, so the Tar Heels probably were more prepared for something like that.
LEG UP: A week after watching Clemson's Justin Miller set an NCAA record for kickoff returns, former Jesuit star Xavier Beitia boomed six of his seven kickoffs into the end zone and UNC returned two for a total of 37 yards. "I was hitting the ball good," he said. "I told coach ( Kevin) Steele, "Man. I owed you one."'
INJURY UPDATE: Defensive end Eric Moore and defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley, the former Chamberlain High star, sprained left ankles on Saturday. Offensive guard Cory Niblock sprained his left shoulder and receiver Willie Reid strained his right hamstring.
HE SAID IT: "So far, so good. Now the next test is away from home." - Bowden on Sexton's development.
